Lubricant servicing unit



Aug. 16, 1949. w. J. SEIGEL LUBRICANT SERVICING UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1943 m W W ATTORNEY g. 6, 1949. w. ,1. SEIGEL LUBRICANT SERVICING UNIT Filed June 9, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR wf/flb/ z J Seige/ BY m 0M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16,1949

William J. Seigel, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Standard Steel Works, NorthKansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application June 9, 1943, Serial No. 490,123

This invention relates to a portable lubricating unit for servicing aircraft and other lubricantusing equipment that is not readily maneuverable to a lubricating station, but must have the lubricating service brought to it.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mobile unit of this character whereby such equipment may be easily and quickly serviced. Other objects of the invention are to provide a mobile unit equipped to remove the used oil and to supply clean oil without contamination by the used oil; to provide a power driven assembly which includes a tank having separate compartments for the clean and used oils,-pumps and operating connections completely assembled and shipped from the factory as a unit so that it is readily applied on a motor vehicle chassis; to provide a driving connection for the pumping equipment which simply requires connection with a Power take-off of the chassis, and to provide a lubricant transfer system having relatively few valves which must be actuated when changing from one servicing operation to another.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a mobile oil servicing unit embodying the features of the present invention, parts of which are broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the lower portion of the unit.

- Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 7

Fig.4 is a diagrammatic perspective'view of the clean and used oil transfer systems.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a mobile lubricant servicing unit embodying the featuresof the present invention and which includes a motor vehicle chassis 2 mounting a lubricant servicing assembly 3. The chassis 2 may be an ordinary small delivery truck chassis including aframe 4 having longitudinal side members 5 and 6 supported at the rear by wheels I and 8 that are operated by an internal combustion engine 9 mounted onthe front end of the chassis. The chassis also. includes front steering wheels, not shown, and a drivers compartment or cab ID. The motor 9 includes the usual speed change transmission II which is connected with the wheels 1 and 8 by a propeller shaft l2. The transmission al o. hasa power 2 (Cr s i-1.5)

sheet l8 that is fixed 2 take-off connection 13 for the purpose later described. q i

The unit assembly 3 includes a horizontally arranged tank [4 which in the illustrated instance consists of front and rear heads 15 and IS, an intermediate bulkhead or partition I! and a wall thereto to provide liquidtight compartments l9 and 20. Preferably formed as an integralpart of the tank is -a rear compartment 2| formed as rearward continuations of the corresponding walls of the tank, and the side walls have depending skirt portions carrying a bottom or floor 26. The floor 26 is connected with the bottom of the tank by a forward wall 21 and the rear end of the compartment 2| is-closed by a wall 28 having a door opening 29 closed by doors 30 and 3| that may be hinged to thesides of the opening so that they swing outwardly from the compartment 2|.

The top of the tank may be provided over the respective compartments [9 and 20 with suitable manholes provided with vents for admitting and discharging air from the compartments as the compartments are emptied and filled with used and clean lubricating oil, as later described. If desired, the lower sides ofthe tank, including the rear compartment, may be provided with side skirt portions 32 and 33 having housings 34 and 35 covering the rear wheels. The skirt portions may also be providedwith compartments 36 and 31 at the front of the tank having side door openings 38 and. closed by doors 40 and 4|, which compartments may be utilized for storing of hose and various lubricating accessories.

Mounted within the rear compartment are spaced frames 42 and 43 having channel portions 44 and 45 spaced above the floor portion 26 of the compartment to mount a horizontal platform-like support 48. The support 46 carries hose reels 41 and 48 that are journalled in ings 5| journaling the ends of the reel shafts. The facingends of the reel shafts project beyond the bearings 5| and are arranged to form swivel connections with pipe fittings 52 and 53. The

" shafts are also connected with hose 54 and 55 that are mounted on the respective reels so that they may be withdrawn therefrom and extended through the rear door of the compartment.

Mounted on suitable bases 56 and 51 carried on the floor 26 of the compartment 2| are pumps 58 and 59 having suction and discharge connections 60-6l and 62-63 respectively. The pumps have operating shafts 64 and 65 extending for- :wardly within the compartment and carrying bearing brackets 49 and 50 fixed to the support 46 and having bearrear end of the counters'haft projects forwardly through the wall 21 and is connected by a universal joint I with a shaft I6 extending forwardly of the chassis to connect with the power take-off I3 by means of a flexible joint 1?. One

of the flexible joints, for example I5, may be pro-1.

vided with a sleeve 78 telescoped over the rear end of the shaft 16 and having a driving connection therewith. pumps are operated by the motor of the vehicle chassis through the power take-off connection of the transmission.

The fitting 52for the hose reel 4'Iincludes' a T 19 having the branches thereof connected with valves Bil-and BI which "in turn connect with pipes 82 and. 83, the pipe-83 being connected with a pipe 84 which connects with the discharge connection 6!, of the pump 58 through a-three-way valve 85; The valve!!!) has discharge connections 86 andfi'I'and an inletconnection Which are controlled by a rotatable'plug 89.

The discharge end of the pipe 84 connects with an air eliminator 90 which is connected with a flow measuring meter 9f whereby luhricant*discharged by thepump is measured as to quantity, the discharge'of the flow meter-being connected directly with the pipe 83. The inlet'connection 50 of the pump 58 is connected with a three-way valve 92 havinginlets 33 and 94 and an outlet 95, the outlet being connected with the inlet of the pump, The inlet connections 93 and 85 of the valves 85 and Marc interconne'cted' by a manifold"96,' which in turn is connected by a pipe 91 with the bottom of the compartment I9 as indicated at 98, Figs. 1 and2. The inlet connection 94 for the valve 92 is connected by a pipe 39 with; a filter I08, which in turn is connected witha hose Ill! having a suction nozzle Hi2 on the free end thereof adapted to be connected with a source of clean lubricating oil. 1

Thedischarge endof the hose 54 is provided wit-ha similar nozzle I03 that is adapted to con-1 nect with the oil inlet connection of the oil supply for the airplane motor to be serviced, as later described. The inlet and discharge connections of the pump 59 are similarly connected by the dis charge and inlet connections I 04 and I65 of three- Way'valves Hi6 and I01. The valvesalsohave inlet connections I08-Ili9 and outlet connections IlG III respectively. The inlet connection IIlB of the valve [B6 is connected by a pipe H2 with the bottom of the compartment 2t; as indicated at I13, Fig. 2. The inlet connection I99 of the valve IE6 is connected'by a pipe H4 with the L fitting 53 which has connection with'the shaft of the reel 48.

The discharge connection llll of thevalve I 6-! is connected by a pipe H5 with the end of the compartment 28, as indicated at IE6, Fig. 2. The outlet connection IIi of the valve I9! connects with a pipe I 51 which leads forwardly of the tank and terminates within the compartment 31 to connect with a hose II 8 that is stored therein, and which is provided with a nozzle H9 on the free end thereof. The hose 55 on the reel 48 has the free end thereof provided with a funnel I that is adapted to be supported by a suitable With this arrangement: the

tripod under the oil drain connection of the aircraft motor, not shown.

The air eliminator may be connected by a vent duct I2I with the top of the used oil compartment as shown in Fig. 3. It is obvious that the pumps, piping systems, individual hose reels and the countershaft are all mounted within the rear compartment 2| and may be completely assembled at the factory with all of the various fittings, including the hose, attached and contained in their respective positions so that the entire assembly may beshipped as a unit from the factory and installed on the chassis of a vehicle merely bysecuring the unit thereon and connecting the shaft It with the power take-off of the vehicle.

In order that the pumps may be independently i. and selectively operated the sprockets II and I2 are provided with clutches I22 and I23 which are operated by rods I24 and I25.

In using a servicing unit constructed and assembled-as described, the clean oil compartment I9 is filled as follows:

The hose I81 'is withdrawn through the door opening island the nozzle I02 thereof connected with a source of lubricant supply; for example, a barrel, not shown. The power take-off is then made effective so'that the shaft I6 is rotated to actuate the countershaft ID. The rod I25 is then operated to shift the clutch I22 into driving connection with the sprocket 72 to actuate the pump 58. The three-way valve 92 is'then adjusted so that the inlet connection 94 thereof is in communication with the discharge connection 95, and the discharge connection 86 of the valve is in communication with the inlet connection 88 of the pump. In this position, flow is closed through the valves to the manifold 96 and the pipe 84. Oil is then drawn from the barrel into the nozzle I 02 through the hose IIII, filter I no and'three-way valve 92 by suction of the pump 58, the oil being discharged from the pump through the discharge connection 6!, three-way valve 85, manifold 96 and pipe 97 into the clean oil" compartment I9.

After filling the compartment I9 with the desiredouantityof fresh lubricant the clutch I23. is disengaged and the hose IIII is returned to the rear compartment 2|, and the plug of the valve 92 is adiustedso as'to close the manifold 95. The oil is thus retained in the fresh oil compartment and ready to service a lubricant oil using unit; for example, an airplane. After disengaging the power take-off, the vehicle is driven to the site of the airplane to be serviced.

After positioning the vehicle in convenient'relation to the aircraft, the hose 55 is withdrawn from the reel in the rear compartment sothat the funnel I20 thereof may be conveniently located over the drain-opening of the oil compartmentof the airplane. The plug of the threeway valve IflIiis then adjusted. so that the pipe H4 is in communication with the inlet of the pump 59 and the valve I0! is adjusted so that the inlet connection is in communication with the discharge connection of the pump and the outlet connection III] is in communication with the pipe II5. Upon opening of the drain connection, the dirty oil flows into the funnel I20 and is drawn by suction of the pump through .the hose 55 and. pipe I I4 and discharged through the pipe 5' into the used'oil storage compartment 20. The hose carrying the funnel is then returned to the reel 48 and the hose on the reel 41 is withdrawn so that the nozzle I03 thereof may be. inserted within the oil'fill connection of'the aircraft. The plug of the three-way valve 92 is then adjusted so that the inlet 93 thereof is in connection with the manifold 96 and the outlet 94 in connection with the inlet of the pump 58 and the plug of the valve 85 i adjusted so that the inlet 88 is in connection with the outlet 86. With these valve adjustments, flow is closed be tween the pump and the connections 93 and 81 thereof.

If the quantity of lubricating oil delivered to the airplane is to be measured, the valve 80 is closed and the valve 8| opened. The rod I is then actuated to engage the clutch I22 to drive the pump 58. With the pump 58 in operation, oil i drawn from the clean oil compartment 59 through the pipe 91, manifold 96 and valve 92 by the pump and discharged by the pump through the valve 85, pipe 84, air eliminator 90, meter 91, pipe 83 and valve 8| and discharged through the hose 54 and nozzle I03 to the airplane oil fill connection, the pump being operated until the meter shows that the desired amount of oil has been dispensed. The pump is then stopped and the valves readjusted to close flow from the clean oil compartment, after which the hose 5% is returned to the reel 41. The unit may then be driven to positions for servicing other planes until the supply of fresh oil in the compartment l8 has been exhausted and the compartment 23 filled with used oil.

The used oil in the compartment 20 is removed therefrom and discharged into a suitable storage. This is efiected by withdrawing the hose l 18 from the compartment 31 and inserting the nozzle H9 thereof into the inlet connection or the dirty oil storage. The plugs of the valves I06 and I01 are then positioned so that the pipe H2 connect with the inlet of the pump 59 and the discharge of the pump is in connection with the hose 1 l8. Then, upon operation of the pump, dirty oil is emptied through the pipe I I2 and valve 106 to the inlet of the pump and discharged by the pump through the valve I01, pipe H5 and hose H8 to storage.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a lubricant oil servicing unit whereby aircraft and similar lubricant using equipment may be quickly and conveniently serviced, and that the servicing is accomplished without contamination of the clean lubricant with the dirty or used lubricant removed from the equipment being serviced. It is also obvious that the servicing unit may be completely assembled at the factory and shipped to remote points for mounting upon any motor vehicle chassis with a mini- 6 mum.of connections being made at the point of mounting.

What I claim and desire Patent is:

1. A servicing unit of the character described including a tank having a compartment for containing a liquid to be dispensed and a pump compartment, a pump in the pump compartment having inlet and discharge connections, a three-wai valve connected with the pump inlet connection, a three-way valve connected with the pump outlet connection, a duct connecting the liquid compartment with said three-way valves, a hose reel in the pump compartment, a hose adapted for winding on said reel, a duct means connecting the three-way valve on the discharge side of the pump with said hose, a meter in said duct, a duct by-passin'g the meter, valves in said ducts for selectively controlling flow through the meter and said by-pass to the hose, and a fill duct connected with the three-way valve on the inlet side of the pump.

2. A liquid servicing un't including a tank having a compartment for containing a liquid to be dispensed and having an interconnected pump compartment, a pump in the pump com partment having inlet and discharge connections, a three-way valve connected with the inlet connection of the pump, a three-way valve connected with the discharge connection of the pump, a reel mounted in the pump compartment, a hose adapted to be wound on the reel, a T connection with said hose and having oppositely disposed branches, shut-off valves connected with the respective branches, means for measuring the liquid, ducts connecting the respective valves with the inlet and discharge sides of said metering means, a duct connecting the three-way valve at the discharge connection of the pump with the inlet side of the metering means, a fill duct connected with the other three-way valve, and means for operating the pump.

WILLIAM J. SEIGEL.

to secure by Letters REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,644,090 Sawyer Oct. 4, 1927 1,655,939 Copeland Jan. 10, 1928 1,909,733 Thwaits May 16, 1933 2,160,741 Jensen May 30, 1939 2,315,085 Churchward Mar. 30, 1943 

